Around 5% of Australians are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Its is characterised by persistent patterns of inattentive, impulsive, and sometimes hyperactive behaviour, often accompanied by challenges in emotional regulation, as noted by ADHD Australia.
While ADHD is most prevalent among boys aged four to 11, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that roughly half as many girls of the same age are diagnosed.
That said, girls typically exhibit the inattentive type of the disorder which can result in their symptoms going unnoticed leaving parents scratching their heads for answers.
Rebecca Challoner, 45, from Melbourne’s West is neurodivergent, as are her two boys. Over the years, Rebecca has spent an infinite amount of time searching for help and support for her kids to limited or no avail.
Rebecca was frustrated with the lack of support and information available for neurodivergent people so created My Spirited Child. My Spirited Child was founded to provide information, strategies and support to parents, carers, and educators of neurodivergent children, as well as neurodivergent adults.
Rebecca’s vision is to create a world in which every neurodivergent child, be supported and enabled to reach their fullest potential and achieve their goals and dreams. Rebecca hopes that through My Spirited Child working with parents and educators around the world we will one day achieve that.
My Spirited Child organises workshops, webinars, and conferences across the country throughout the year. The highly anticipated 5th Annual Victorian ADHD Conference is set to take place in April at the Plenary, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne.
This annual event, which has consistently achieved remarkable success over the years, promises to be an enlightening and empowering experience for attendees.
The conference aims to provide valuable knowledge and strategies for parents, educators, professionals, family members, and friends of individuals with ADHD or suspected ADHD.
The conference will run from 10am to 4pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of exhibitors before settling in for a day filled with insightful presentations and discussions.
The Victorian ADHD Conference is one piece of the puzzle for Rebecca to realise her vision. The event will cover a wide range of topics related to ADHD, catering to the diverse interests and needs of attendees.
“We are thrilled to host this year’s conference in Melbourne again,” says Rebecca Challoner, Founder of My Spirited Child. “Our lineup of speakers is renowned for their expertise in ADHD, and we are confident that attendees will walk away with invaluable tools and resources to support individuals with ADHD.”
With a lineup of six esteemed expert speakers, attendees can expect to gain practical insights and techniques applicable both at home and in educational settings. Speakers include Louise Larkin, Sandhya Menon, Dr Connie Buckingham, Christine Keeble and Stephanie Pinto.
Internationally sought-after ADHD lecturer and workshop facilitator, Dr Sharon Saline is also among the star-studded line up of high-profile speakers.
“I’m so excited to be a speaker at the My Spirited Child conference in Melbourne,” shares Dr Saline. “Rebecca has created an exceptional event, and it is such an honour to participate in this. I’m really looking forward to meeting Australians interested in ADHD and neurodivergence.”
Whether seeking information on strategies for managing ADHD symptoms, navigating educational challenges, or understanding the latest research developments, the conference promises something for everyone.
Since 2017, Rebecca and her team have been rolling ADHD conferences, workshops and seminars out across the country and also released a DVD about Understanding ADHD in 2019.
In January 2021, My Spirited Child so proud to open the very first National PEKE Centre in Cranbourne, Victoria with a second centre opened in Wyndham Vale in 2023.
In an effort to shed light on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and provide a platform for knowledge exchange, the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre is set to host the groundbreaking conference on Saturday, April 20th.
